This paper mainly discussed a bacterial stain with high flocculating activity isolated from cantaloupe juice .The strain was named Bacillus sp.B_(53) based on colony morphology, physiological and biochemistry experiments. The new flocculant was purified and shown to be a homopolymer of glutamic acid by HLPC analysis and thin layer chromatography, and presumed to be Poly ?-glutamic acid(?-PGA). ?-PGA 12.48g/L was achieved in shake flask. The purified material showed a absorption peak at 212nm, and was only composed of L-Glu. The MW could be detected through SDS-PAGE, and its MW was about a molecular mass between 440kD with 669kD. This bioflocculant efficiently flocculated various organic and inorganic suspensions. It's flocculanting effect on kaolin and ([BF]Ca(OH)_2[BFQ]) was superior to others.

To remedy the limitations of traditional numerical classification softwares,a new application,X-Cluster,was developed by using various design patterns.X-Cluster had powerful functions to support the researching of numerical classification,and testified by some classify studying about Bacillus spp..

To prove the influence of protein isoaspartyl-methyltransferase ( PIMT ) on the cell apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes of RA.Methods: The expression vector of PIMT was constructed and transfected in to the RA-FLS, the impact of PIMT on the cell apoptosis of RA-FLS was observed by overexpressing the vector of PIMT.Results:The mRNA and protein level of PIMT in RA-FLS was increased after transfected the vector of PIMT into RA-FLS;compared with the normal cultured RA-FLS and the RA-FLS transfected with the empty vectors ,the cell apoptosis level was also increased.Conclusion:The decreased expression level of PIMT in RA-FLS is an important reason for reduce apoptosis of RA-FLS,and PIMT can affect the imbalance of proliferation/ap-optosis in the RA-FLS.

A 2,4 -dichlorophenol degrading Pseudomonas strain GI241-1 was isolated from a soil sample. The dienelactone hydrolase gene, designated as dcpD which encodes dienelactone hydrolase involved in transforming cis-2-chloro-dienelactone into 2-chloromaleylacetic acid, was cloned from this bacterium strain. The gene cloning strategy was to construct genomic library after location of its neighbouring gene by Southem blot and to screen the aim transformant by dot blotting. Sequencing results showed that length of dcpD is 702bp. The sequence of dcpD and the deduced amino acid are different from the relative sequences registered in the GenBank.

Twenty-nine antagonistic bacillus strains, isolated from some Chinese traditional medicine and fermented food , inhibit the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Vasinfectum and Verticillium dahliae Kleb. And twelve of them are able to produce antagonistic proteins. Among the twelve strains, five (H110, H184, H216, B316 and B382) showed higher antibacterial activity. Furthermore, H110 and H184 were identified as Bacillus subtilis, and H216, B316 and B382 as Bacillus licheniformis based on physiological and biochemistry experiments. The antagonistic proteins of five strains were all thermostable, resistant to proteinase K and trypsin, while H184 and H216 partially sensitive to pepsin.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of transumbilical single-site single-port with that of transumbilical single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomy in the treatment of varicocele in adolescents.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 80 varicocele patients aged 10 - 16 years to two groups of equal number to receive transumbilical single-site single-port and single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomy, respectively. We compared the operation time, postoperative hospital stay, incisional pain, complications and satisfaction with the abdominal cosmetic outcomes between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully performed. The double-port group showed a significantly higher score on the Visual Analogue Scale than the single-port group (4.8 +/- 1.4 vs 3.6 +/- 1.1, t = -4.986, P < 0.01), but there were no significant differences between the two groups in the operation time ([29.8 +/- 4.2] vs [31.2 +/- 4.6] min, t = 1.383, P = 0.171), postoperative hospital stay ([1.95 +/- 0.7] vs [1.82 +/- 0.8] d, t = -0.784, P = 0.436), complications (0 vs 0) and scores on the satisfaction with abdominal cosmetic outcomes (4.6 +/- 0.6 vs 4.8 +/- 0.5, t = 1.253, P = 0.214). No recurrence, umbilical hernia, hydrocele and orchiatrophy were found in the two groups of patients at 6 months after operation, and no visible scar was observed on the abdominal surface.

CONCLUSIONWith strict surgical indications, single-site single-port and single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomies have similar clinical effects in the treatment of varicocele, which leave no scar on the abdominal surface. Single-site double-port laparoscopy needs no special instruments and therefore is worthier of wide clinical application.

Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Umbilicus ; surgery ; Varicocele ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the meridian three-combined therapy for treatment of ordinary psoriasis.

METHODSA multi-central, randomized and positive drug controlled trial was adopted, and 233 cases were divided into an observation group of 116 cases and a control group of 117 cases. The observation group was treated with thread embedding at points, blood-letting puncture on the back of ear and auricular point pressing (i.e. meridian three-combined therapy). For thread embedding, 3-4 local points such ear points as Fei (CO14), Gan (CO12), Pizhixia (AT4), Shenmen (TF4) , cephalic and symmetric points of severe parts of the limb skin were selected according to the skin lesion position, and the treatment was given once each two weeks. For ear point tapping and pressing, 3-5 points were selected in each session. And the control group was treated with oral administration of Di yin Tablets, 5 tablets each time, twice each day. After treatment of 6 weeks, the clinical therapeutic effects, the score of skin lesion area, the scores for skin lesion severity and safety were compared in the two groups.

RESULTSThe markedly effective rate was 57.8 % in the observation group and 51.3% in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05); after treatment the scores for both the skin lesion area and the skin lesion severity were significantly decreased in the two groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), and with a significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). And the incidence rate of the adverse reaction in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe meridian three-combined therapy is effective and safe for treatment of ordinary psoriasis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bloodletting ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Young Adult

Recent studies indicate that beta-amyloid (Abeta) is the key factor to cause neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we set up an Abeta induced PC12 cell damage modle and studied the protective effect and related mechanisms of T(10), monomer extracted from Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. PC12 cells were treated with different concentrations of Abeta (5x10(-4), 5x10(-3), 5x10(-2), 5x10(-1), 5, 50 micromol/L) for 48 h, cell viability was detected by MTT conversion. The apoptotic rate of PC12 cells was quantitatively determined using FACS assay. After PC12 cells were treated with 1x10(-11) mol/L T(10) for 48 h and then co-treated with 50 micromol/LAbetafor 48 h, the apoptotic rate and the change in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration of PC12 cells were analyzed by FACS assay and confocal, respectively. It was found that 5 micromol/L Abeta decreased the cell viability to 66.3% and 50 micromol/L Abeta decreased it to 55.1%, significantly different from that of the control group. After treatment with 50 micromol/L Abeta for 48 h, the apoptotic rate of PC12 cells increased obviously. The apoptotic rate was 5.37% in the control group, while after treatment with 0.5, 5 and 50 micromol/L Abeta for 48 h, the apoptotic rate of PC12 cells went up to 10.19%, 8.02% and 16.63%, respectively. At the same time, the concentration of intracellular Ca(2+) increased greatly after treatment with 50 micromol/L Abeta for 48 h. At the concentration of 1x10(-11) mol/L T(10) remarkably inhibited the apoptosis induced by 50 micromol/L Abeta. In the naive group, the apoptotic rate was 4.83%. The apoptotic rate went up to 17.24% after treatment with 50 micromol/L Abeta for 48 h. After co-treatment with 1x10(-11) mol/L T(10) and 50 micromol/L Abeta, the apoptotic rate decreased to 8.91%, significantly different from that of the control group. At the same time, at the concentration of 1x10(-11 )mol/L T(10) remarkably inhibited the increase of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration induced by Abeta. The results indicate that T(10) has obvious protective effect on PC12 cells, which may be related to the inhibition of the cell apoptosis and increment of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration induced by Abeta.
Alzheimer Disease ; pathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Epoxy Compounds ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Peptide Fragments ; toxicity ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDResection of sacral chordomas is challenging. The anatomy is complex, and there are often no bony landmarks to guide the resection. Achieving adequate surgical margins is, therefore, difficult, and the recurrence rate is high. Use of computer navigation may allow optimal preoperative planning and improve precision in tumor resection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of computer navigation-aided resection of sacral chordomas.

METHODSBetween 2007 and 2013, a total of 26 patients with sacral chordoma underwent computer navigation-aided surgery were included and followed for a minimum of 18 months. There were 21 primary cases and 5 recurrent cases, with a mean age of 55.8 years old (range: 35-84 years old). Tumors were located above the level of the S3 neural foramen in 23 patients and below the level of the S3 neural foramen in 3 patients. Three-dimensional images were reconstructed with a computed tomography-based navigation system combined with the magnetic resonance images using the navigation software. Tumors were resected via a posterior approach assisted by the computer navigation. Mean follow-up was 38.6 months (range: 18-84 months).

RESULTSMean operative time was 307 min. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 3065 ml. For computer navigation, the mean registration deviation during surgery was 1.7 mm. There were 18 wide resections, 4 marginal resections, and 4 intralesional resections. All patients were alive at the final follow-up, with 2 (7.7%) exhibiting tumor recurrence. The other 24 patients were tumor-free. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score was 27.3 (range: 19-30).

CONCLUSIONSComputer-assisted navigation can be safely applied to the resection of the sacral chordomas, allowing execution of preoperative plans, and achieving good oncological outcomes. Nevertheless, this needs to be accomplished by surgeons with adequate experience and skill.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chordoma ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sacrum ; surgery ; Spinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Electron ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptors, Steroid ; analysis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics